We have recently purchased an old farm home in rural Iowa (old as in over 100 years). Of course, we are doing extensive remodeling everywhere, but we are wondering what to do or what is best about our attic ventilation. At first there was absolutely none. This past spring, we added ridge vents. We were told we could not use soffit vents because out soffits were not "open." So, do we need other venting? We thought gable vents, but someone at the lumber yard has said we don't need any more venting and that gable vents would be too high to get the proper cirulation of air for the ridge vents. Thanks for your thoughts and help on this. B. Sue

 

Hello: Sue

Heat rises. Therefore, I cannot understand why anyone would say the gable vents are too high to be of any value. Adding ridge vents allows air in and the gable vents allow the hotter air out.

You may want to consider adding power fans to those gable vents but then also add intake equal to the exhaust. Or just add one power fan on one side.

Another option would be a roof electric power exhaust fan. The gables would be the intake and the roof power fan the exhaust. Yet another option would be turbines.

I am not sure what method would be best considering your winter climate zone. That's where the real professionals within this forum could best help you.

Also the advice of a local HVAC [Heating-Ventilation- Air Conditioning] contractors professional advice would be worth while seeking.

Regards & Good Luck
Forum Moderator
Tom_Bartco
Energy Conservation Consultant & Natural Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.

 

Thanks, Tom, for your speedy reply. I wanted to make sure we were on the same page for terms of "gable vents" Our idea (or mine, I guess) and what we had originally wanted was the triangle vent at the top of the side wall on the house next to the roof line. We have shake shingles on the upper story of the house, and I wanted the vents to blend in with the line of the very upper peak of the side of the house on two sides, or all four side, whichever is better. The lumberyard person's thinking, I think, was that the upper gable vents were too high to get the air circulating from the floor of the attic, between the gable vents at the upper peak of the side walls and the ridge vents. If this isn't a problem, then we'll go ahead and use gable vents. Thanks again, Sue

 

I believe the guy at the lumber yard is generally on target about the lack of circulation towards the attic floor.. However if there is absolutely no way of adding soffit vents then I would install the gable end vents.. A ridge vent by itself is close to useless.

Good Luck

Jim

 

Sue: Follow Tom's advice he is right on the money.